Algeria 0-2 Nigeria: Osimhen & Akor's goals send Super Eagles into semi-finals

Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams were on target as Nigeria booked their place in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a deserved 2-0 victory over Algeria.

Match Report

The Super Eagles will take on hosts Morocco for a place in the final on Wednesday, having produced an impressive display in Saturday's last-eight encounter in Marrakech.

Nigeria dominated the first half but somehow failed to take a lead into the interval. Adams had their best chance of the opening period, but he side-footed high and wide with only Luca Zidane in the Algeria goal to beat.

Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri also made an excellent, last-ditch tackle to deny Osimhen, while Ademola Lookman worked Zidane.

Calvin Bassey also saw a prodded attempt hooked away by Ramy Bensebaini, with a long VAR check required to ascertain that the ball had not crossed the line, with goal-line technology not in use at this edition of AFCON.

But Algeria's resistance was finally broken only 84 seconds into the second half as Bruno Onyemaechi hung up a cross to the far post, where Osimhen converted with a downward header.

Osimhen was denied a second goal shortly afterwards, but he turned creator for Adams in the 57th minute, the Sevilla man calmly collecting his strike partner's lay-off, rounding Zidane, then tapping into the unguarded net.

Eric Chelle's team had chances to add further gloss to their lead, but they ultimately had to settle for a 2-0 success as Adams somehow headed against the post when presented with an open goal.

Data Debrief: Nigeria dominate en route to semis

Nigeria have impressed so far at AFCON, taking maximum points from their group before thumping Mozambique 4-0 in the last 16, but this was their best display yet.

The Super Eagles fired off 13 shots to Algeria's three and also won the expected goals (xG) battle by a convincing 2.9 xG to 0.13 xG, not giving up a single shot on target.

Algeria did not even register their first shot until the 80th minute, with this the first time on record (since 2010) that they have not managed a single attempt in the first half of an AFCON match.

Nigeria, meanwhile, are only the second team to ever score two or more goals in their first five matches at a single edition of AFCON, after Egypt did so in 1974 and 2010.

Match Events

25' Match Event for Algeria vs Nigeria

30' Match Event for Algeria vs Nigeria

36' Highlight from Algeria vs Nigeria

47' GOAL! Algeria 0-1 Nigeria (Victor Osimhen)

57' GOAL! Algeria 0-2 Nigeria (Akor Adams)

Line-ups

Algeria XI: Mandi, Mahrez, Bensebaini, Luca Zidane, Hicham Boudaoui, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Ramiz Zerrouki, Mohamed Amoura, Rafik Belghali, Farès Chaïbi, Ibrahim Maza

Subs: Baghdad Bounedjah, Anthony Mandréa, Ilan Kebbal, Youcef Atal, Zineddine Belaid, Himad Abdelli, Adem Zorgane, M. Bakrar, Anis Hadj Moussa, Adil Boulbina, Oussama Benbout, Mehdi Dorval, Redouane Berkane

Nigeria XI: Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Ndidi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Osimhen, Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Calvin Bassey, Akor Adams, Bruno Onyemaechi, Stanley Nwabali

Subs: Paul Onuachu, Moses Simon, F. Uzoho, Awaziem, Chukwueze, Usman Mohammed, Chidera Ejuke, Zaidu Sanusi, Igoh Ogbu, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Tochukwu Nnadi, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Amas Obasogie, Salim Fago Lawal